Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

2016 NCAA Football Rankings (Week One Update!)

Tell the Associated Press to take a hike ... these are the only college pigskin rankings you ought to pay any attention to.

By: Jimbo X
JimboXAmerican@gmail.com
@Jimbo__X

This Week's Episode:

Everything Goes EXACTLY as Planned

The A.P.? The USA Today's Coaches Poll? Whatever jibber-jabber is being puked out over at ESPN and Bleacher Report? Puh-leeze, we all know those alleged "Top 25" countdowns are pathetic jokes penned by homers, Power Five loyalists and Notre Dame nuthuggers. That's why I decided to release my own weekly rundown of the best FBS college football squads in the States, completely devoid of all the usual fanboyism and corporate malarkey that makes lists of the like elsewhere so unbelievably annoying.

Throughout the regular season, a new installment will go up every Wednesday morning, so you may want to bookmark this sucker for future reference ... and to show to all of your fellow NCAA football lovin' chums, so they can know that - at least somewhere out in the tangled, endlessly frustrating World Wide Web - there's someone on the Internet with some goddamn horse sense when it comes to ranking college 'ball teams.

Alabama (1-0)

Next Opponent: Western Kentucky (Sept. 10)

Well, if there were any doubts as to whether Nick Saban's 800 pound gorilla in Tuscaloosa is in reload mode instead of rebuilding, they sure as shit answered it in their regular season opener, absolutely crushing USC 52-6 down in Jerry World. Granted, it took the Tide a good 15 minutes before they could get into their rhythm, but when they found it, the Trojans paid dearly. Receiver ArDarius Stewart had two TDs on four hauls for 114 yards (including a 71-yard scorcher for six) while new Bama QB Jalen Hurts hit end zone twice on six passes, additionally scrambling for two more on the ground. And the defense looks as good as ever, holding the high-flying Trojans to just 130 yards by air and just 64 rushing.

Houston (1-0)

Next Opponent: Lamar (Sept. 10)

Tom Herman pretty much guaranteed the Cougars will be a Big 12 school this time next season. In their impressive 33-23 win over the no. 3 nationally ranked Sooners, Greg Ward racked up 321 passing yards and two touchdowns (plus another six on the board with his legs), but really, it was the efficient kicking of Ty Cummings - whose four field goals and three extra points represented nearly half of the team's point tally - and the kick six heroics of Brandon Wilson that really propelled the defending American Athletic Conference champs to victory. Still, Houston nonetheless gave up a ton of yards in the air, allowing Baker Mayfield, in a losing effort, to still post 323 yard and two touchdown passes.

Wisconsin (1-0)

Next Opponent: Akron (Sept. 10)

In a weekend with no shortage of upsets, perhaps none rang louder than the unranked Badgers bumping off the no. 5 nationally ranked LSU Tigers at Lambeau Field. Granted, it wasn't easy - it took Wisconsin a fourth quarter field goal to steal the W - but the Badgers nonetheless looked like an entirely different team, offensively and defensively, from last year's underwhelming squad. The numbers may not sound like it, but even allowing 138 yards, the Badgers did a pretty good job shutting Leonard Fournette down, keeping him out of the end zone all day despite getting the rock 23 times. With 205 yards and two INTs, Wisconsin QB Bart Houston definitely needs to work on his game (the defense definitely bailed him out against LSU), but he certainly has some good weapons to work with in the backfield, including halfback Corey Clement (86 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries) and receiver Troy Fumagalli (100 yards on seven catches.)

Florida State (1-0)

Next Opponent: Charleston Southern (Sept. 10)

At one point losing 28-6, the Seminoles managed to surge back by improbably scoring 33 consecutive unanswered point en route to a rousing, come-from-behind 45-33 victory against Ole Miss last Monday evening. While dual running and receiving threat Dalvin Cook (91 yards on the ground and 101 in the air) and standout wideout Jesus Wilson deserve plenty of credit, the lion's share of the success can be solely attributed to FSU QB Deondre Francois, who posted an absurd 419 passing yards, with two of his 33 completions resulting in scores. That said, the Seminoles' defense is a tale of two teams; while they were very effective at stopping Ole Miss' running game (only allowing the Rebels to rack up 67 rushing yards), they nonetheless allowed Chad Kelly ample room to lob four touchdowns and collect 313 aerial yards on the day. Granted, even that little statistic has a silver lining for the FSU faithful, seeing as how Seminole defenders also intercepted the heavily touted Heisman candidate three times.

Texas (1-0)

Next Opponent: Texas-El Paso (Sept. 10)

Judging by the Longhorns' 50-47 double overtime victory over Notre Dame, one of two things must be true: either the Irish are a vastly overrated team (ND, being overrated at the beginning of the season? A shocker, I know) or this Texas team - with playmakers like D'Onta Foreman (131 yards and a TD on 24 carries) and John Burt (111 yards and a touchdown on six receptions) - might actually be worth a toot. Although it's always a stretch to guesstimate an entire team's comprehensive worth after one game, methinks both of those qualifiers addressed earlier are more than likely true. And don't be surprised if Tyrone Swoopes - whose three rushing touchdowns included the game-winner - doesn't become a dark horse Heisman candidate by year's end.

Texas A&M (1-0)

Next Opponent: Prairie View A&M (Sept. 10)

Am I overrating the Aggies after one upset performance? Maybe, maybe not. That said, it's hard to not be impressed by Trevor Knight's play, having produced 239 passing yards and a TD in tandem with two additional scrambling scores in his team's 31-24 overtime win against no 16 nationally ranked UCLA. Granted, the team did allow Josh Rosen to put up a ton of aerial yards (343, to be exact,) but the Aggies' D did a pretty good job stopping the run, allowing the Bruins to only collect 125 rushing yards on the day.

Georgia (1-0)

Next Opponent: Nicholls State (Sept. 10)

While Georgia's two-headed quarterbacking situation remains a cause for concern (especially considering neither Jacob Eason or Greyson Lambert played particularly well in the season-opener at the not-long-for-this-world Georgia Dome), with a healthy Nick Chubb in the backfield, this Bulldogs team is going to be competitive. In UGA's 33-24 win over North Carolina, the Heisman hopeful recorded 222 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, including a 55-yard saunter, while up-and-coming receiver Isaiah McKenzie registered 122 yards and a score on six hauls. That, and the Dawgs defense, for a change, looked pretty solid, allowing the no. 18 nationally ranked Tar Heels just 159 yards passing and 156 rushing.

Ohio State (1-0)

Next Opponent: Tulsa (Sept. 10)

Say what you will about Bowling Green being substandard competition, but dropping a 77-10 win is impressive, no matter who you are playing. The most impressive aspect of the Buckeyes' 67-point-margin victory? It's gotta' be QB JT Barrett, who recorded 349 yards and six touchdown passes in Ohio State's mudhole stomping. Oh, and by the way, he had one rushing TD, too, because fuck not-showing-off, that's why. Also some names you should probably take note of? Running back Mike Weber (136 yards on 19 carries) and receiver Curtis Samuel, who reeled in two touchdowns and finished the day with 177 yards on nine receptions.

Michigan (1-0)

Next Opponent: Central Florida (Sept. 10)

So beating up on a team nicknamed "the rainbow warriors" probably isn't something you should be proud of, but come on - if you can pound a cream puff to the tune of 60 points, I say let 'em have it. In their merciless 63-3 mauling of Hawaii, Harbaugh's boys posted 306 yards rushing, while the Wolverines' D held their foes to 81 yards on the ground and 151 by air. Quarterback Wilton Speight had three touchdowns on the day, going 10 for 13 for 145 yards, while back Chris Evans (no, not that Chris Evans) finished the game with two touchdowns and 112 yards on eight carries. Considering the next team on their schedule features a Pegasus as its logo, it's probably a safe bet to assume Michigan will post similar numbers this upcoming weekend.

Stanford (1-0)

Next Opponent: Southern California (Sept. 17)

No team in college football is as reliant on a single player as the (always singular) Cardinal are upon Christian McCaffrey. He certainly looked in top form when Stanford sailed past Kansas State 26-13, racking up two rushing TDs and concluding the win with 126 yards on 22 carries (plus another 30 receiving yards, for good measure.) Questions abound about the team's quarterbacking and defense (Stanford, after all, let KSU out-gain them, 243 aerial yards to 167), but as long as the great white galloper remains healthy? Yeah, this is a team that's virtually a lock for a Pac-12 championship berth.

TCU (1-0)

Next Opponent: Arkansas (Sept. 10)

Apparently using a playbook culled from the pages of NFL Blitz, the Horned Frogs, as they are oft-prone, racked up a TON of aerial yardage in their season opener against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. In fact, the great Boykin-fill-in Kenny Hill posted 439 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions (plus another three rushing touchdowns) en route to TCU's 59-41 win. Alas, plenty of defensive questions remain, seeing as how TCU also somehow managed to allow SDSU QB Taryn Christion to put ip three touchdowns and 333 passing yards of his own.

Iowa (1-0)

Next Opponent: Iowa State (Sept. 10)

In their season opener, the Hawkeyes won in typical Hawkeyes fashion, pounding out Miami (the Ohio one) 45-21 with a relentless ground-based assault. By the time the clock struck triple zeroes, Iowa put up no less than five rushing touchdowns, with backs Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels, Jr. teaming up for four scores and 204 yards on a combined 22 carries. With 192 yards and a solo TD pass, quarterback C.J. Beathard's play was decent, but unremarkable; that Iowa allowed a substandard QB like Billy Bahl to put up 266 yards and connect for two touchdown passes, however, should give the Hawkeyes faithful plenty of concern about their defensive outlook this season.

Oklahoma State (1-0)

Next Opponent: Central Michigan (Sept. 10)

Winning a game 61-7, you'd think the most remarkable thing about the Cowboys' performance would be their offense. Alas, while their four touchdowns and 250 yards on the ground and Mason Rudolph's two-touchdown, 188 passing-yards day are impressive, it was their defense that really shined in their throttling of Southeastern Louisiana. Thanks to Oklahoma State's stingy D, the hapless Lions wrapped up the game with just 97 yards of rushing offense and only 106 passing yards.

Louisville (1-0)

Next Opponent: Syracuse (Sept. 09)

An early nominee for performance of the year, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson posted eight touchdowns in his team's 70-14 obliteration of the Charlotte 49ers. Jackson finished the game with six aerial scores and 286 yards on 17 completions, with another two touchdowns - and 119 yards - mailed in via the ground. Oh, and one more thing ... did I mention this motherfucker did all that in just the first half of the game?

Michigan State (1-0)

Next Opponent: Notre Dame (Sept. 17)

Out goes Conor Cook, in comes Tyler O'Conner. The new Spartans quarterback looked very good in his team's 28-13 win over Furman, mailing in three aerial touchdowns and collecting 190 yards on 13 completions. Back LJ Scott (105 yards and a touchdown on 20 touches) and receiver Monty Madaris (80 yards on five catches) also played solid, but it was the Spartans' defense that was the most impressive - they only let the Paladins chalk up 139 receiving and 87 rushing yards all day-long.

Baylor (1-0)

Next Opponent: Southern Methodist (Sept. 10)

While Baylor has some, ahem, unfortunate off-the-field issues undergirding the season
(coughEVERYBODYONTHETEAMISPROBABLYARAPISTcough), on the field they had their way with Northwestern State during their home opener. Bears QB Seth Russell really stuck it in the Demons, posting four touchdowns and 146 yards on 14 completions, while running backs Shock Linwood and Terence Williams didn't ask for consent en route to combining for two touchdowns and 169 yards on the ground. Holding steady for an easy 55-7 win, I guess you could say Baylor could have spiked the drink ... I mean, the ball ... and just have costed through this one.

Washington (1-0)

Next Opponent: Idaho (Sept. 10)

There was little drama to be found in the Huskies' 48-13 route of Rutgers. Quarterback Jake Browning had three touchdowns and 287 aerial yards in the victory, while Washington's defense held the Red Knights to 168 yards passing and 136 yards rushing. A reason to be concerned, however? Washington had no luck getting their own run game up and going, finishing the game with a surprisingly low yardage count of 91, with zero touchdowns ran in.

Oregon (1-0)

Next Opponent: Virginia (Sept. 10)

The UC Davis Aggies never really stood a chance in their 53-28 loss to Oregon over the weekend. New Ducks QB Dakota Prukop looked very good, lobbing the rock into the end zone three times and accumulating 271 yards on 21 passes (oh, and also had one more touchdown on the ground.) Back Royce Freeman (two touchdowns and 87 yards on 11 carries) and receiver Darren Carrington II (one TD and 117 yards on 7 receptions) also put on good showings for Oregon, but their defense, clearly, has some deficiencies: while the Ducks were able to hold their foes to only 89 rushing yards, they also allowed the Aggies to collect an absurd 303 yards in the air.

Florida (1-0)

Next Opponent: Kentucky (Sept. 10)

The Gators, last year's most surprising overachiever in the SEC, started off the 2016 season right where they left off, bruising UMass 24-7 in a game that was surprisingly close up until the fourth quarter. Luke Del Rio, yes the son of Raiders' head coach Jack Del Rio, did all right as the new Florida QB, putting up 256 yards and two touchdowns in 29 completions. The real highlight, however, was the Gators' D, which held the Minutemen to 141 passing yards and a paltry 46 on the ground.

Clemson (1-0)

Next Opponent: Troy (Sept. 10)

Is this too low a ranking for the team that was dubbed second best in the entire nation in the much-ballyhooed preseason polls? Considering how close the unranked Auburn Tigers came to upsetting Clemson over the weekend, I'd argue to the contrary. Yes, Deshaun Watson looked solid with 248 yards and a passing TD on 19 completions, but the defense let Auburn hang in there much longer than they should have. If the bottom-dwellers of the SEC are going to prove this problematic for the defending ACC champs, what kind of headaches will top-tier teams like Alabama pose?

Tennessee (1-0)

Next Opponent: Virginia Tech (Sept. 10)

The highly touted Vols came this close to getting done in by Appalachian State in their season opener, requiring overtime to facilitate a 20-13 comeback victory. The three J's (quarterback Joshua Dobbs, running back Jalen Hurd and receiver Josh Malone) each had at least one touchdown, but sweet Jesus, did it take this team forever to get things rolling. Factor in the surprisingly lackluster defensive showing and even the most hardcore Tennessee fans have to be second guessing the overall quality - and expectations - of this year's squad.

Miami (1-0)

Next Opponent: Florida Atlantic (Sept. 10)

The Hurricanes might be a sleeper now, but if the hurting they put on the hapless Florida A&M Rattlers is any indication, the fabled "U" might just be a team to keep an eye on. Quarterback Brad Kaaya had four touchdowns in Miami's 70-3 annihilation of A&M, with no less than three separate running backs for the Hurricanes collecting 100 yard days. And then, there was their impressive defensive showing: they held the Rattlers to 175 yards in the air and a mind-numbingly low 22 on the ground.

Boise State (1-0)

Next Opponent: Washington State (Sept. 10)

Yep, the blue turfers are the same Boise State. Crushing Louisiana Lafayette 45-10 in their season opener, Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien had 347 passing yards and two touchdowns, with receivers Thomas Sperback, Cedrick Wilson and Jeremy McNichols combining for three scores and 341 yards all by themselves. The defense looked good, too, holding the Ragin' Cajuns to 186 receiving yards and only 81 rushing.

Army (1-0)

Next Opponent: Rice (Sept. 10)

Are you ready for quite possibly the flukiest stat of the entire first week of college football? The Army Black Knights managed to defeat Temple (remember, a team that was challenging Houston for the AAC crown last year) 28-13 ... and they mustered an almost unfathomably low 15 yards of aerial offense the entire game. If you're wondering how they managed that, you can probably thank Army's 329 yards and four touchdowns on the ground - not to mention Owls quarterback Phillip Walker lobbing three interceptions into the wide open arms of Army defenders.

Navy (1-0)

Next Opponent: Connecticut (Sept. 10)

You know, I can overlook the fact that the Midshipmen let the woefully undermanned Fordham Rams accumulate 302 yards of aerial offense - a tally that more than doubles Navy's entire receiving yardage count - in their 52-16 season opener win. Why? Because Navy also put up 427 yards of rushing offense, with Chris High and Tago Smith combining for four scores and 273 yards. By the way ... did I mention the team literally pulled some kid out of the stands to play quarterback when their starter went down?

2015 NCAA Football Top 25 Rankings (Week 11)

...anybody can die, at moment ....

By: Jimbo X

JimboXAmerican@gmail.com

@Jimbo__X

The Associated Press? The USA Today's Coaches Poll? Whatever jibber-jabber is being puked out over at ESPN and Bleacher Report? Puh-leeze, we all know those alleged "Top 25" countdowns are pathetic jokes penned by homers, Power Five loyalists and Notre Dame nuthuggers. That's why I decided to release my own weekly rundown of the best FBS college football squads in the States, completely devoid of all the usual fanboyism and corporate malarkey that makes lists of the like elsewhere so unbelievably annoying.

Throughout the regular season, a new installment will go up every Wednesday morning, so you may want to bookmark this sucker for future reference ... and to show to all of your fellow NCAA football lovin' chums, so they can know that -- at least somewhere out in the tangled, endlessly frustrating World Wide Web -- there's someone on the Internet with some goddamn horse sense when it comes to ranking college 'ball teams.

Clemson (10-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Wake Forest

Deshaun Watson had another great game on Saturday, posting 360 yards and two TD passes - with an additional 105 rushing yards and a scrambling TD - in the Tigers' 37-27 win over Syracuse. Wideouts Charone Peak and Artavis Scott also posted big numbers, combing for a touchdown and almost 200 receiving yards, while Clemson's defense held the Orange to just 80 yards passing.

Ohio State (10-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Michigan State

J.T. Barrett was much more impressive on the ground then he was by the air in Saturday's 28-3 win over Illinois. After sitting out last week's game because of a DUI, the Buckeyes starter threw for 150 yards, a TD and an INT, posting an additional 74 rushing yards and a scrambling a score. Oh, and Ezekiel Elliot was as badass as ever, rushing for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

Oklahoma State (10-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Baylor

The Cowboys survived a HUGE scare at the hands of Iowa State over the weekend. In Oklahoma State's woolly 35-31 comeback win, Mason Rudolph had ho-hum numbers (327 passing yards, but only one TD), so the team had to rely upon receivers Marcell Aterman and David Glidden (who combined for 217 yards and a touchdown) to seal this one. The team's defense proved very vulnerable to a potent running attack, as the Cyclones' underwhelming rushers still managed to chew up the field for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

Iowa (10-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Purdue

It was a nail-biter, but the Hawkeyes still pulled out the 40-35 win against Minnesota. C.J. Beathard has 213 yards and no TD passes in the contest, but he did manage to scramble 50 yards on 10 rushes for two touchdowns on the ground. Then there was the impressive work of running back LeShun Daniels, Jr., who had 195 yards and three touchdowns on the day. Still, the Gophers managed to put up some considerable yardage in the air, with a final 301 tally.

Houston (10-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Connecticut

The Cougars managed to hold off Memphis in a 35-34 thriller to remain unbeaten over the weekend. QB Kyle Postma had 236 yard passing with a touchdown, with another 49 yards and a score on the ground. Clearly, this Houston team is able to do a whole lot more with its run game than its passing attack; they managed to produce four touchdowns on 96 rushing yards, while they could only muster one TD with 296 receiving yards.

Alabama (9-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Charleston Southern

'Bama smashed Mississippi State on Saturday, clobbering the hapless Bulldogs 31-6. Jake Coker didn't do much and he really didn't have to, as Derrick Henry rumbled for two touchdowns and 204 yards on the day. And while Mississippi State may have gotten about 300 (largely fruitless) yards by air, the Tide shut down their run defense, allowing just 89 rushing yards during the affair.

Note Dame (9-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Boston College

Although DeShone Kizer threw no touchdown passes in the Irish's 28-7 victory over Wake Forest, he was still able to run for two scores. The hero of the day for Notre Dame, however, had to have been halfback Josh Adams, he finished the game with 141 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Defensively, the team did all right against the run (limiting WF to 121 yards) but they really gave up a lot of needless yards in the air, as the Demon Deacons lobbed the ball 219 yards, when the Irish themselves could only post 111 in the air.

Oklahoma (9-1)

Next Opponent: vs. TCU

Baker Mayfield made a strong case for a Heisman in the Sooners' 44-34 victory over the previously undefeated Baylor Bears. Chucking the rock 271 yards for three touchdowns, he also managed to accumulate another 76 yards and post another end zone visit with his feet. A truly comprehensive offensive showing, receiver Sterling Shepherd had two touchdowns and 177 yards, while underrated back Samaje Perin had two touchdowns of his own and 166 yards.

Florida (9-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Florida Atlantic

The Gators looked a lot better in their 24-14 win over South Carolina than they did in their lackluster bid against Vanderbilt two weeks back. Florida's D was downright stellar, holding the Cocks (huh, huh) to just 180 receiving yards and only 21 rushing. Alas, the Gators offense also looked sluggish; with 256 receiving yards, the squad only had one aerial touchdown, while the run game wrapped up with a fairly low 148 yards - albeit, with two touchdowns.

North Carolina (9-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Virginia Tech

Marquise Williams' 189-yard passing day was EASILY offset by his scrambling performance, which saw him rack up three touchdowns and 101 yards on 13 rushes in the Tar Heels' 59-21 win over the dumpster fire known as the Miami Hurricanes. By the time the final whistle sounded, UNC had 298 rushing yards and SIX touchdowns on the ground, with talented-but-unheralded back Elijah Hood leading the pack with 132 yards and a solo TD.

TCU (9-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Oklahoma

The Horned Frogs rebounded from their first loss of the season by handing Kansas their 10th "L" of the year in Saturday's 23-17 victory. TCU's run game certainly kept them in this much closer than-expected contest; while their opponents could only chalk up 121 yards on the ground, the Horned Frogs produced 279 rushing yards - with back Aaron Green responsible for 177 of them.

Baylor (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Oklahoma State

The Bears fell from the ranks of ranks of the unbeaten following their 44-34 loss to the Sooners on Saturday night. Backup QB Jarret Stidham broke even on with two touchdowns and two INTs a piece, as Shock Linnwood collected 103 yards - but no touchdowns - on 21 carries. Baylor's secondary, however, just didn't have an answer to Oklahoma's potent aerial attack, as their foes wrapped up the game with 270 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Michigan State (9-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Ohio State

Although the Spartans bested Maryland 24-7, the injury to starter Connor Cook is certainly a costly one. Back-up Tyler O'Connor hardly impressed with his one TD, 44-yard performance, but running back Gerlad Holmes did look marginally better with a solo score and 83 rushing yards. Without Michigan State's defense showing up - which produced threee INTs, including a pick-six - this one would have been WAY closer.

Navy (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Tulsa

The Midshipmen crushed SMU 55-14 on Saturday, with quarterback Keenan Reynolds scoring four rushing tochdowns and racking up 137 yards on the ground. In total, Navy posted 403 yards and seven touchdowns on 65 carries; with rushing production like that, you can somewhat forgive the team's anemic 81 receiving yards.

Toledo (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Bowling Green State

The Rockets won a close one against Central Michigan, 28-23, on Saturday. QB Phillip Ely had two touchdown passes and 322 yards on the day, while back Kareem Hunt posted another two touchdowns and 113 yards on the ground. While Toledo let CMU post 349 yards in the air, at least they did a pretty good job of stopping the run; they held the team to 59 yards on just 20 carries.

Michigan (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Penn State

The Hoosiers gave the Wolverines everything they could handle and then some in Saturday's double overtime thriller. Still, Michigan managed to hang on and win the contest, 48-41, thanks in no small part to Jake Rudock's six touchdown passes. Give receiver Jehu Chesson some props, too; as Rudock's favorite target, he finished the contest with 207 yards and four touchdowns on 10 hauls.

Florida State (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Chattanooga

With nothing really to play for at this point, FSU refused to dial it in on Saturday, as they beat up NC State 34-17. With 138 yards and two touchdowns, Dalvin Cook had another impressive showing, while Sean Maguire, with 231 passing yards, two touchdowns and an INT, also looked pretty good. The same, however, cannot be said for backup QB Everett Golson; on nine passing attempts, he had 52 yards and two interceptions.

Wisconsin (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Northwestern

The Badgers had a bye this week, as they await divisional foes Northwestern in what should be a pretty good little match-up this weekend. QB Joel Stave has 10 touchdowns and eight INTs on the season, while star halfback Dare Ogunbowale has six touchdowns and 612 rushing yards thus far in the Badgers' 2015 campaign. They rank 64th in total offense with 399 yard per game, and third overall in total defense, allowing just 272 opponent yards per contest.

Memphis (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Temple

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Tigers on Saturday evening, as they blew a late lead and let AAC rivals Houston drop 21 points on 'em in the fourth quarter en route to an astounding 35-34 comeback win. Although Memphis managed to outyard Houston 212 to 96 on the ground, the Cougars were able to do much more with their shorter chunks of field; they produced four touchdowns on the ground, while Memphis could only muster tow rushing TDs.

Stanford (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Colorado

Stanford got stunned by Oregon on Saturday night, dropping a tough 38-36 contest to a subpar Ducks squad. Unless some REALLY crazy things happen between now and the first week of December, the loss pretty much puts the (singular) Cardinal out of the NCAA playoff picture; alas, maybe Christian McCaffrey and Kevin Hogan can still motivate themselves with some Pasadena fantasies in the waning weeks of the season?

LSU (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Ole Miss

The Tigers 31-14 stomping at the hands of Arkansas certainly has to be one of the biggest surprises of the season thus far. The Razorbacks managed to hold Leonard Fournette to just 91 yards and a single TD, while QB Brandon Harris went 21 for 35 for 271 and a 1-1 TD-to-INT ratio split. The run defense absolutely crumbled during the contest, as LSU wound up letting Arkansas's less than top-tier rushing attack post 299 yards on the day.

Utah (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. UCLA

The Arizona WIldcats scored a big upset against Utah, besting the Utes 37-30 in double overtime. Although QB Travis Wilson had 219 yards and two touchdown passes and star HB Devontae Booker had 145 yards and a solo TD run, the defense just didn't have an answer for the Cats' aerial attack, which posted 302 yards and three touchdown passes en route to an extra innings victory.

Northwestern (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Wisconsin

Purdue gave Northwestern a much closer game than they probably expected, but the Wildcats still walked out of Saturday's contest with the 21-14 win. Although Northwestern's passing stats were nothing to write home about, they did do a very good job pounding the rock; while their adversaries could only muster 73 rushing yards on 30 carries, the Wildcats were able to rack up 250 yards and three touchdown runs on 48 carries.

Appalachian State (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

The Mountaineers waxed the Vandals like a candle on Saturday, as their rushing attack dropped 401 yards against Idaho in their dominant 47-20 victory. Sure, the Spud State reps may have had more receiving yards overall, but Appalachian State was certainly more productive with their lesser yardage count, having produced four touchdowns on just 10 catches.

Temple (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Memphis

When the Owls squared off against the South Florida Bulls on Saturday, they definitely got the horns; with 326 yards and three touchdowns, the USF run game absolutely gored Temple, as the Sunshine State squad bested the boys from Philly 44-23. Both QB and HB stars P.J. Walker and Jahad Thomas had days to forget; Walker wrapped up the game with 259 yards and a 1:1 TD-to-INT count, while Thomas walked off the field with just 65 yards and a single end zone visit.

2015 NCAA Football Top 25 Rankings (Week 10)

Separate, and unequal

By: Jimbo X

JimboXAmerican@gmail.com

@Jimbo__X

Clemson (9-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Syracuse (Nov. 14)

The Tigers' D propelled them to a win over much-hated divisional foes Florida State Saturday, in what was effectively the unofficial ACC Championship Game. Clemson held FSU to 164 yards in the air and while they couldn't necessarily restrain Dalvin Cook, they at least managed to prevent him from scoring more than one touchdown. Deshaun Watson looked solid at QB for Clemson, racking up 297 passing yards and 107 on the ground en route to the team's 23-13 victory. With tilts against non-factors Syracuse, Wake Forest and South Carolina ahead, the Tigers pretty much control their own destiny at this point; of all the Power Five conference leaders at the moment, no team in college football appears to have an easier road to the Playoffs.

Oklahoma State (9-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Iowa State (Nov. 14)

The Cowboys beat the crap out of former-unbeaten TCU over the weekend, pummeling the Horned Frogs 49-29. Talk about production disparity; although TCU had 445 yards receiving on Saturday, they only managed to produce one score by air. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State, while only putting up 375 yards, managed to put up five aerial touchdowns. The MVP had to have been Cowboys wide-out James Washington, who had 184 yards and three TDs on just five catches.

Ohio State (9-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Illinois (Nov. 14)

The Buckeyes' rushing definitely saved the day (or more accurately, late afternoon) in the team's 28-14 win over Minnesota. Backup QB Cardale Jones was unremarkable tossing the rock (187 yards, a TD and 12 for 22 on passes), but he did manage to scramble for a much-needed rushing touchdown. Ezekiel Elliot was also impressive, posting a 114-yard, solo TD performance on 26 carries, and the team's rush defense all but shut down the Golden Gophers on the ground; Minnesota finished the game with a measly 33 rushing yards.

Baylor (8-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Oklahoma (Nov. 14)

Seth who? Backup Baylor QB Jarret Stidham looked excellent in the Bears' 31-24 Thursday night win over Kansas State, as he accumulated 419 yards and three touchdowns on 33 passes. Of course, Baylor's run game also looked a little anemic in the much-closer-than-it-should-have-been affair; with 258 yards on the ground, the Wildcats more than doubled Baylor's rushing production in the contest.

Iowa (9-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Minnesota (Nov. 14)

The Hoosiers made it close, but the still-undefeated Hawkeyes managed to emerge from Saturday's conference battle against Indiana victorious, 35-27. While the two teams' rushing numbers were practically identical (meaning, in a roundabout manner, that Iowa's run defense needs a lot of work), you really can't say anything bad about the Hawkeyes' aerial production. Although they mustered just one passing TD, their total 233 receiving yards outstripped Indiana's aerial numbers by more than 50 yards.

Houston (9-0)

Next Opponent: vs. Memphis (Nov. 14)

Following an eventful Saturday, the Cougars now find themselves the last unbeaten ACC team in the nation. Of course, Houston barely scrapped by Cincinnati themselves on Saturday; in their narrow 33-30 win, they got out-passed 523 yards to 161; so, how did the team manage to pull out the W? Well, I suppose it ain't too difficult to control the clock when you're out-rushing your opponent by 200 yards.

Alabama (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Mississippi State (Nov. 14)

The Crimson Tide CRUSHED LSU on Saturday, limiting the Tigers to an outstanding 54 rushing yards, despite having this year's probable Heisman Trophy winner in the backfield. At the end of the day, it was another running back who made his impression felt the deepest; that would be 'Bama back Derrick Henry, who posted 210 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries.

Stanford (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Oregon (Nov. 14)

Christian MacCaffrey has to be a Heisman candidate at this point. In the (singular) Cardinal's 42-10 slaying of Colorado, he had 147 yards on 23 carries; while that didn't result in any touchdown rushes of his own, it nonetheless gave Stanford the ability to punch the ball into the endzone with three other backs, resulting in 275-yard rushing grand total.

Notre Dame (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Wake Forest (Nov. 14)

DeShone Kizer had arguably his best showing of the season in the Irish's 42-30 win over Pittsburgh. He wrapped up the game with five touchdown passes, going 19 for 26 for 262 yards. Top target Will Fuller brought in three touchdown receptions, producing 152 yards on only seven catches, while Notre Dame's run game - marred by a late injury to top back C.J. Prosise - still managed to finish the contest with 175 yards on the ground.

LSU (7-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Arkansas (Nov. 14)

The Tigers were just overwhelmed by the Crimson Tide in their 30-16 loss over the weekend. With just 31 yards on the day, Leonard Fournette was a non-factor, and QB Brandon Harris could only muster 128 yards on 19 passing attempts ... of which he only connected on six. While their D kept Alabama's wideouts out of the endzone, they couldn't do anything to stop the run, as 'Bama mulched the field for 250 unencumbered yards.

Florida (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. South Carolina (Nov. 14)

The Gators may very we have had their toughest game of the year Saturday, against a Vanderbilt team that, to put it mildly, sucks the big one. Treon Harris had no touchdowns, one INT and just 158 yards in Florida's narrow 9-7 victory, as their D allowed the Commodores to outrush them by almost 50 yards. Sure, they held Vandy's passing attack to just 30-some-odd yards, but considering how close the game was despite that, you really have to start asking some serious questions about this team heading down the stretch.

Michigan State (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Maryland (Nov. 14)

While we will be arguing about the eligibility of Brandon Reilly on the game winning drive for some time to come, the fact of the matter is that -- by hook or crook -- the Cornhuskers defeated the Spartans, 39-38. Michigan State, of course, is far from finished; with an upcoming tilt against Ohio State, the team very feasibly could find itself starring in the Big 10 Championship if they manage to take the Buckeyes off the rolls of the unbeaten. You know, pending something fluky doesn't happen along the way against Maryland or Penn State, of course...

Oklahoma (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Baylor (Nov. 14)

The Sooners annihilated Iowa State over the weekend, pummeling the Cyclones 52-16. Baker Mayfield finished the game with three touchdown passes and 342 yards, while backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon combined for close to 200 yards and two TD catches. Next up for Bob Stoops and the boys? A Big 12 showdown against Baylor, which very well could propel Oklahoma to the top of the conference.

Utah (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Arizona (Nov. 14)

The Utes had few problems getting past Washington, besting their Pac-12 foes 34-23. Devonte Booker had another stellar showing, chewing up the field for 150 yards and a touchdown run, while QB Travis Wilson scrambled for two scores of his own to pad his 155-yard passing day. However, Utah showed some clear holes in their pass defense, as the underpowered Huskies offense was still able to out-gun them in the air, 257 yards to 155.

TCU (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Kansas (Nov. 14)

Boykin had big numbers as always (445 yards and a TD), but my goodness, was his arm ever off; in the Horned Frogs embarrassing 49-29 loss to Oklahoma State, he chucked no less than four interceptions, one of which Chad Whitener returned for six on the board. The rushing attack (which resulted in three touchdowns and outpaced Oklahoma State by 150-or-so-yards) looked great, but the loss demonstrates the team's over-reliance on the passing game; when their receivers aren't on, not only is TCU beatable, they're easily beatable.

North Carolina (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Miami (Nov. 14)

The Tar Heels beat the crap out of arch rivals Duke 66-31 over the weekend, as Marquise Williams slung the rock for 494 yards and four touchdowns (and yes, he even managed to produce a fifth score while scrambling.) Despite a fairly low 167 total yards rushing, UNC made certainly got a lot of mileage on the ground; they finished the game with five rushing touchdowns, with Elijah Hood turning in three on 17 carries.

Navy (7-1)

Next Opponent: vs. SMU (Nov. 14)

Midshipmen running back Chad Swain took the motto "be all you can be" to heart Saturday, as he ran roughshod over the formerly undefeated Memphis Tigers for 108 yards and three touchdowns. Sure, Navy finished the game with just 85 receiving yards, but their 374 yards on the ground, which resulted in five touchdowns, was more than enough to earn them their 45-20 win.

Memphis (8-1)

Next Opponent: vs. (Nov. 14)

The Tigers tasted defeat for the first time this season, dropping a tough loss to the Naval Academy 45-20. The passing numbers were wildly diametric (Memphis had 305, Navy had 85), but the Tigers just couldn't convert those aerial yards into points on the board. Meanwhile, Memphis just couldn't get their run game going, nor could they find a way to stop the Midshipmen on the ground, as they pounded them for 374 yards and five touchdowns in the trenches.

Temple (8-1)

Next Opponent: USF (Nov. 14)

The Owls bounced back from their first loss of the season by besting SMU 60 to 40. P.J. Walker finished the game with four touchdown passes and 268 yards (plus another rushing TD of his own), while the combined Owls rushers put up three touchdowns and 268 yards total on the ground.

Toledo (7-1)

Next Opponent: vs. Central Michigan (Nov. 10)

The Rockets tasted defeat for the first time this season, as they dropped last Tuesday's game against Northern Illinois 32-27. Although Toledo outran the Huskies 291 yards to 124, they also got out-passed; Toledo finished the game with 136 yards and one touchdown, while Northern Illinois finished the contest with two aerial touchdowns and 277 receiving yards.

UCLA (7-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Washington State (Nov. 14)

The Bruins murder-death-killed Oregon State on Saturday, crushing the Beavers (that's what she said) 41-0. Josh Rosen tossed two touchdowns and wrapped up the contest with 333 yards, with Thomas Duarte leading UCLA receivers with two scores and 116 yards on six receptions. Also noteworthy? UCLA's running back committee combined for three touchdowns and 284 yards on 55 carries, a sum that more than doubles the rushing production put up by Oregon State.

Michigan (7-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Indiana (Nov. 14)

The Wolverines pounded Rutgers like a gong Saturday, defeating the Scarlet Knights 49-16. Quarterback Jake Rudock had two touchdowns and 337 yards, while the blue and gold D held their conference foes to just 128 yards rushing and less than 100 yards receiving.

Wisconsin (8-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Northwestern (Nov. 21)

The Badgers bested Maryland over the weekend, 31-24, in a contest that saw defender Tanner McEvoy reel in two interceptions and Natrell Jackson score on a kick return. Joel Stave's 188-yard, one-TD-and-one-INT day wasn't that impressive but to be frank ... you really don't have to play at your best level to beat the Terrapins, anyway.

Mississippi State (7-2)

Next Opponent: vs. Alabama (Nov. 14)

In what may be the last Missouri football game involving black people for the foreseeable future, the Bulldogs ripped the the Tigers a new one, 31-13. The awesomely-named Dak Prescott finished the contest with four touchdown passes and 303 aerial yards, with receivers Fred Ross and De'Runnya Wilson combining for three scores and 217 yards on the ground.

Florida State (7-2)

Next Opponent: vs. NC State (Nov. 14)

Dalvin Cook did his damnedest, but even his impressive numbers (194 yards and a TD on 21 carries) weren't enough to lift the Seminoles past Clemson on Saturday. The Seminoles definitely got beat in the air in their 23-13 loss; Deshaun Watson nearly doubled Sean Maguire's passing yards, while no receivers for the 'Noles were able to convert said yardage into points on the board.

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